JUPE FRAUD TRIAL INTO SECOND MONTH

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Jim Budd

The trial of Stephen Jupe at Southwark Crown Court on multiple charges of fraud, fraudulent trading and using a prohibited company name has finished its seventh week. Between 1993 and 1997 Jupe offered investments in Grandtully single malt whisky through Marshall Wineries.In his evidence Jupe claimed that Marshall Wineries and Grandtully Distillery Ltd were two different companies. However, Jupe was a director and the principal shareholder of both companies. Grandtully owned no buildings or distillation equipment, and instead bought new fill from the Speyside Distillery in Kingussie. Marshall Wineries then charged 950 for a hogshead and 1,750 for a Sherry butt. Although an investor was told on 12 May 1993 that a cask was available and held for him', the first attempt Marshall Wineries made to find a source of supply was on 12 July 1993. Its first order was placed with Speyside at the end of August 1993. The prosecuting barrister pressed Jupe on whether Marshall had any whisky to sell in April 1993. Jupe maintained that Marshall had identified sources of supply'. Jupe also claimed that although Grandtully had no equipment it was a distillery since by placing orders with Speyside it caused whisky to be distilled'.

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